Steering-gear for vehicles.



No. 698,407. Patented Apr. 22, I902. P. L. MALIC ET 8|. E. E. BLIN.

STEERING GEAR FDR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Nov- 29, 1901.)

(llo Modgl.)

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UNiTnn STATES PATENT Genres.

PAUL LUCIEN MALICET AND EMILE EUGENE nun, or AUBERVILLIERS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS TO LA sooIETE ANONYME nns nrABLIssEMnNTs MALIGET ET BLIN.

STEERING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

EEEQLFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,407, dated April 22, 1902.

Application filed November 29, 1901. Serial No. 84,104. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL LUCIEN MALI- CET and EMILE EUGENE BLIN, citizens of the Republic of France, residing at Aubervilliers, Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Steering-Gear for Vehicles, (for which application for Letters Patent has been made in Greatliritain under N0. 22, 970,- dated November13, 1901; in France, dated August29, 1901, and in Belgium, dated November .14, 1901,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a new arrangement of steering-gear particularly applicable to motor-vehicles, whereby the steering-Wheels of the vehicle are entirely uninfluenced by any extraneous forces, shocks, or

vibrations which the wheels may undergo.

In order to make the nature of our inven- .tion well understood, the latter is represented by way of example in the accompanying sition in its bearings c (1, formed by joining the two parts 9 and f of the box containing the steering mechanism. On this screw 1), the threads and pitch of which can be of any desired number, is mounted a nut g, to which a longitudinal movement can be given in relation to the steeringspindle a, but which cannot turn aroundthe said spindle. This nut g carries a rack h, formed or arranged to follow one of its generating-lines, which gears with a pinion p, the spindle o of which by any suitable transmission-gear governs the direction of the wheels of the vehicle. The rack 71. and the pinion maybe provided with straight, helical, or other shaped teeth.

The means'for guiding the nut g in its toand-fro movement in order to prevent it from turning around the spindle a can be of any description, the following devices being only given by way of example.

The first arrangement, Figs. 1 and 2, consists in providing a circular groove 11 on the periphery of the pinion p and on the rack h a corresponding straight groovej and in placing in the latter groove a pin 7c, the ends of which rest against the casing containing the steering mechanism. In consequence of this arrangement when the worm or screw 1) is rotated the nut, as it cannot turn, by reason of the rod it, rises or descends, actuating in its turn the pinion 19 by means of the rack h, the said pinion causing its spindle 0 to rotate in the desired direction. It is evident that the pin it instead of being straight could be circular and be mounted either partially or entirely in the toothed part of the pinion.

A modification of the nut portion of the steering mechanism above described consists in arranging in the box itself a guide Z, Fig. 3, which engages a longitudinal groove '12, providedin the thick part of the nut g.

A second modified form of guiding mechanism for the out 9 consists in arranging on each side of the pinion p washers or collars s, Fig. 4, the external peripheries of which are in contact witl1, tl1e lateral portions 25 of the nut g on each side of the rack h on the nut.

For the purpose of enabling the pinion and rack to be relatively adjusted in a perfect manner when there is play between them We preferably form the bearings of the piuionp of eccentric rings at, the external periphery of which is held immovable or. clamped by joining and locking the two parts 2 andfof the box together. A screw q,having a lock- .nut 1', serves as a thrust-bearing for the spindle 0. and being adjustable serves at the same time to compensate for wear or play of the worm b. i

From the arrangements above described it spindle provided with a Worm-thread, a nut mounted thereon means for driving the nut in a longitudinal non-rotatable direction a longitudinal rack on the outer surface of the nut a pinion engagingtherewith and mounted on a steering-rod and an eccentric bearing for said steering-rod substantially as described.

2. In a steering-gear for vehicles a steeringspindle provided with a Worm-thread a nut mounted thereon means for driving the nut in a longitudinal non-rotatable direction a longitudinal rack upon the outer surface of the nut a pinion engaging therewith and mounted on a steering-rod, and an adjustable thrust-bearing for the steering-spindle substantially as described. 

